Gundam SEED C.E. 79

Tragedy at Perth

Part 2

Dedicated to my Father (Oct. 26, 1947 – Jul. 29, 2007)

Despite it still being day, it was as if it was as dark as night. The smoke from the burning city of Perth rose into the sky, blocking the suns rays of light. Cagalli had boarded the Vierge and rushed towards the center of the city, where the Iblis awaited her... It stood as if with no intention of initiating further conflict... then, it's cockpit door opened, and the Crimson Knight rode the rope ladder down to the ground.

Landing the Vierge, Cagalli followed suit, riding her rope ladder down to the ground as well. She approached the man in deep Crimson, as he slowly approached her. They both stopped, keeping a distance of about four yards between them.

Cagalli, looked as if she was on the verge of tears, yet kept herself composed in the face of her 'enemy'. The Crimson Knight stood stoically, it was impossible to read his emotions through his crimson mask.

"I told you the last time... the next time, I won't be so merciful. It's still not too late, Cagalli... you can return with me to the Empire. You're far beyond the filth of these naturals... you've proved to me and to the Emperor that you're a new type of Natural. You... have evolved..."

"..."

"Cagalli... it wasn't my intention for Martius-4 to fall on ORB. But it was fate that decreed it to, and there is no fighting fate. It is predestined, preordained... just as His Excellency's rise to power in the Plants. He sees a true vision for humanity. In order for us to ascend to the next stage of existence, we must rid ourselves of the bad, tainted parts of ourselves – the Naturals who are bound by the Earth's gravity and too ignorant to see that evolution has passed them by!"

"...What happened to you? Do you even realize what you're saying?"

"You could never understand, Cagalli. You're too corrupted by the foolish ideals of the ORB Nation. Peace can never be attained through absolute pacifism. Absolute or Total Pacifism is a pipe dream, Cagalli. 'Orb will not attack another nation, will not allow another nation to attack them, and will not intervene in conflicts of other nations'... don't you see, Cagalli-that's just hollow idealism! It's weakness! In order to bring about an age of peace, we need to be hard, strong, and steadfast in our ideals! It's now that I realize..." the Crimson Knight states, as he removes his mask, "that my Father saw something much greater than I or anyone could fathom at the time! And that's why now, that through the infinite wisdom of Emperor Kayneth El-Melloi, I, Athrun Zala, have pledged my eternal loyalty to Him and to the Zodiac Empire!"

"Athrun..."

"Cagalli... please," Athrun extends his hand, "Come with me... together let's shape the new age."

"What about Meyrin? What happened to her?"

"...She supported the rebellion... we had no choice but to confine her to Ravens Bridge, a prison PLANT."

"Athrun... don't you see, no matter how much I want to be with you... you're traveling down a path I can't follow! Why can't you see the evil you and the Empire are committing?! Athrun... I loved you!" Cagalli exclaimed, with tears flowing down her face as she backed up towards the Vierge.

"Cagalli... very well..." Athrun responded, pulling back his outstretched arm, turning around, he headed towards Iblis. Their gazes met for one final time, before both returned to the cockpits of their respective mobile suits. It was understood, they were enemies. As both mobile suits activated, it would mark the beginning of their battle...

Ravens Bridge Colony

Meanwhile...A long line of rebel supporters were shackled at the neck, wrists and ankles as they were led out of the transport vessel. They had arrived at Ravens Bridge Colony, a colony created for the sole purpose of 'concentrating' the rebels in one confined location. Ravens Bridge was where all the female rebel supporters were taken. Among them were: Shiho Hahenfuss, Meyrin and Lunamaria Hawke, Scarlet Brody, and Miriallia Haw. As they walked in line, Lunamaria spoke quietly, "I'm sorry... if it wasn't for us asking for Terminals aid... you wouldn't be in this predicament, Miriallia..."

"It's not your fault... someone had to gather the information... of course I didn't plan on getting caught... At least I was able to send it back the Alliance..."

"..." Meyrin remained silent. She hadn't said a single word since she was betrayed by Athrun. Initially, it was Athrun who worked with the Rebel Alliance to thwart Kayneth El-Melloi's abuse of power... it was a shock to everyone when it was Athrun who emerged by the side of the Emperor and lead the assault against Martius-4. Since that day, Meyrin hasn't said a word, she remains mute as a result of the shock. If it hadn't been for Lunamaria Hawke and Shinn Asuka, she would've died within Martius-4 during the G-3 Nerve Gassing. After escaping Martius-4, Shinn Asuka, Lunamaria and Meyrin Hawke were all subsequently captured. That was the last time they saw Shinn Asuka... his current whereabouts are unknown.

As the long line of prisoners were led to the edge of the hangar, before the large gate which opened up into the colony, they were halted. In that moment, the shackles on their wrists loosened. Just as some of the prisoners went to reach for the shackle-collar around their necks, they were given a severe warning by a woman standing high above the large gate, on a walk way overhead. It was Retslla.

"I wouldn't reach for those collars if I were you... if you tamper with that collar...Boom. The explosion will take out at least a hundred in front and behind you. You lambs were brought here because there is no place for you in the new age! Now... if you value your lives... raise your right arms and acknowledge the authority of the Zodiac!"

As Retslla spoke, she raised her right arm. As she did, initially no one followed. At that moment, Retslla pulled a side arm pistol from her uniform belt and shot the first prisoner in the throat, causing her collar to detonate – annihilating the first 100 or so prisoners in the long line, "...Now...as I was saying... acknowledge our power! Seig Zodiac!"

It was done against their wills, it was done so that they may continue to 'live'... the remaining 200,000 prisoners were left with no alternative but to raise their right arms in salute of the Zodiac. Retslla proceeded to laugh maniacally as she opened the gates to Ravens Bridge via a nearby terminal. The Imperial Shield Knights would then re-shackle the wrists of the prisoners and lead them into Ravens Bridge.

As the prisoners were being led into the prison colony, Retslla descended the overhead walk way and walked along side the prison line. When she passed Miriallia, she stopped, "Halt the line!" she shouted, prompting the entire line to be halted. Retslla then grabbed Miriallia by the chin and chuckled, "It's been a while... hasn't it Miriallia? Tell me... how's Sai?"

"S-sai? He has nothing to do with the Rebellion... he returned to civilian life after the first Bloody Valentine War came to an end...but...why would someone like YOU want to know about someone as Sai Argyle?"

"Because, Miriallia, he was a part of my past. Just as you were..." Retslla replies as she removes her mask.

"w-what? F-Flay? ...b-but...i-impossible... y-you... you died!"

"Yes, I did die. But here I am, alive. And not only am I alive, I am a Coordinator. I am no longer that pathetic weak, Natural Flay Allster... I am Retslla Y now. Heh heh... it looks like you and I are no longer the same. You are a pathetic Natural... and your purpose in this life... is Death! Kyahahahahaha!!

"...You're insane..."

In that moment, Retslla slapped Miriallia thunderously. She gripped Miriallia by the chin again afterwards, "Just remember, Miriallia... who decides who lives and who dies in this place. Continue to get on my bad side... and you'll be a Ravens Bridge early casualty..." she warns Miriallia before turning to the Imperial soldiers, "Move the line!"

And with that said the prisoners continued to be marched into Ravens Bridge...

Battle at Perth

Vierge and Iblis clashed beam sabers in the middle of the burning city. Vierge had a beam saber in each hand, while the Iblis was using it's large claymore beam saber which required two hands to wield. With each quick, agile strike from the Vierge, the Iblis would block with the thickness of it's energy blade and push back the attack slashes made by the Vierge.

With a strong downward, Vierge barely blocked the attack with both of it's beam sabers crossed in an 'x'. As the Iblis applied more pressure, it started forcing the Vierge's beam sabers dangerously close to it's cockpit.

"Cagalli! Why won't you understand?! It's not like we plan to exterminate every Natural like my Father intended! We merely wish to relocate the weak so that the strong can lead humanity into the next age!"

"Nonsense! Do you expect me to believe that line of crap? Then why did the Emperor authorize the killing of millions of his own people using G-3 Nerve Gas? And then proceed to cause Martius-4 to fall to Earth – which brought catastrophe on MY people of Orb!"

Cagalli's SEED mode was activated due to the strength of her feelings as she retaliated, pushing the Iblis' claymore beam saber back. Once the Vierge made it's strongest push, it knocked the claymore beam saber of the Iblis back. In that time, spinning both beam sabers to their sides in each hand, the Vierge connected them both at the hilts – creating a double-bladed beam saber. Bursting forward, it executed a spinning slashing attack, throwing the Iblis into a pure defensive mode. The Iblis blocks countless of strikes coming from left and right as the Vierge continues it's retaliatory attack.

Then, the cable attached to the Iblis' core and the hilt of it's claymore beam saber was severed due to the Vierge's flurry of saber strikes. This caused the constant energy feed to the massive claymore's beam blade, rendering it as effective as a normal single-handed beam saber. In the following attack stroke, the Vierge slices off the right arm of the Iblis.

"Athrun!!" Cagalli screamed enraged. The Vierge pulled back it's double-edged beam saber and then purged it through the chest cavity of the Iblis, missing the cockpit by mere fractions... the cockpit was now exposed and half of Athrun's Crimson mask was singed off, the right side of his face was instead covered in the crimson of his own blood...

"...Cagalli... I see... You've gotten much stronger... I underestimated your abilities..."

"Athrun! Please... throw away that mantle of darkness and fight with me! You're a good person! This isn't like you at all!"

"...Cagalli... you're still... so kind. However... it's like I said before. I pledged my loyalty to the Emperor... I chose of my own free will to follow this path. I believe in him, despite the radical claims made by the rebellion and the Earth Forces... Emperor Kayneth truly cares about the Coordinators. He truly cares about humanities ascension into the next age... Cagalli... I don't expect you to understand, but I do except you to accept my decision. And, the next time I show weakness and am pushed to the brink of death... I would like nothing more than for you to kill me...because if roles were reversed... you would already be dead."

"Oh Athrun..."

The Iblis made it's retreat, to that of which the Vierge made no attempt to thwart or follow. The Vierge stood amidst the burning city of Perth as the battle-damaged Iblis disappeared in the thick smog that enveloped the entire radius of the city. After a moment, the Vierge returned to the beach and landed. Exiting the Vierge, Cagalli approached Ashley Rosi, who was still hugging his mother's lifeless body.

"...She's dead..."

"...Ashley... I'm sorry, I know this must be hard for you... But I can't leave you here in this state... We should go—"

In that moment, Ashley turned around and embraced Cagalli as he proceeded to sob relentlessly. Cagalli consoled him by caressing his hair, she spoke with a calm, soothing voice, "Ashley... it's going to be alright. I know nothing can compare to the pain you're feeling at this given moment-trust me, I know... I know what it's like to lose a parent right before my eyes. But I can sense you're a strong young man... it will be hard, but I believe you'll be able to pull through this."

Ashley looked up, his eyes reddened from excessive crying, "I-I'm sorry... I just... I just can't stop crying..."

"It's okay to cry, Ashley... especially in a situation like this. Cry as much as you can, just let it all go..."

And he did, Ashley continued to cry on the shoulder of Cagalli. As she looked out to the ocean, she saw a large ship coming into view. It was an Earth Federation aircraft and mobile suit carrier. Aid was coming to the battered city of Perth. But no aid available could ease Ashley of his pain of loss. Because no aid can ease the pain of losing a loved one. People who lose loved ones to untimely ends must deal with the most painful of loss, the separation anxiety is immense and reminds us just how precious life really is... even with this knowledge, war continues to exist. The Zodiac Empire's atrocities have only just began and will only get worse. It is clear that the Zodiac Empire must be stopped... but what is unclear is why Athrun Zala has aligned himself with such an organization. Despite the reasons he gave, it still didn't offer Cagalli any understanding of Athrun's decision. She could've killed Athrun Zala... but her heart wouldn't let her. On February 24th, C.E. 79, Ashley Rosi experienced the tragedy of the loss of his Mother at Perth... and Cagalli Yula Athha experienced the tragedy of the loss of the love she once had for Athrun Zala. She knew no matter how much she loved him... her heart couldn't reach him... As Cagalli consoled the sobbing, grief stricken Ashley, she secretly held inside the pain of her own breaking heart... She looked out on the horizon, above the approaching Earth Federation carrier... as the sun slowly started to shine through the smog.

Chapter 6 Preview

Amidst the pain of loss, Ashley Rosi is able to realize that there is no time to selfishly sulk. His sister, Cameron, is missing. Supposedly, she had gone to Canberra to see how Ashley was after she had heard of the assault on Canberra via the media. However, when Cagalli and Ashley return to Canberra, Ashley is faced with a harsh reality... Cameron is not there. What happened to Cameron? And how will Ashley deal with yet another set back? Next time on Gundam SEED C.E. 79, "Cameron"

Author's Comments

This chapter may not be as long as a few of my others, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. Especially the final moments of the chapter. I tried to encompass the feelings of loss, as per my own experience, and place it into the how Ashley would feel-how anyone would feel if placed in this situation. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Anyhow, until next time.